Church Encourager
Our hope at Church Encourager is to provide practical support to help pastors, churches and leaders have greater confidence, enthusiasm and strength in their lives and walk with God.
We are excited to announce that we are launching the Church Encourager Initiative to enhance leadership effectiveness, improve team dynamics, and reduce burnout among faith leaders. Use the button below to find out more about this exciting opportunity.
For Pastors and CHurch Leaders
Pastors and church leaders often experience high levels of stress and burnout, with limited access to personalized coaching and development tools. Many struggle with team conflicts, leadership challenges, and personal discouragement, leading to ineffective ministry and, in some cases, early resignation. We are launching the Church Encourager Initiative to enhance leadership effectiveness, improve team dynamics, and reduce burnout among faith leaders.
For Churches
Utilizing a process we call Virtual Church Spark we work with you through a series of steps to help pinpoint problems and offer solutions.
Books & Publications
Establishing a daily life of prayer and meditation on the Word of God are vital to the life and health of every believer. My devotional books help to incorporate proven Spiritual disciplines into your daily life.
Discipleship Training
Daily Psalt Intake
From the beginning, the church has used the Book fof Psalms (Psalter) as the center of its daily practice.
Discipleship Training
Daily Sage Intake
The Proverbs help to develop the way that we live our life “in Christ” in a fallen world on a broken planet.
Discipleship Training
Daily Strength Training
Have you prayed today? That is a question of four simple words that can help us to become a people of prayer.
Recent Church Encourager Posts
Kingdom Covenant Part 5 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Covenant Part 5 Discussion Guide
1 Title
Kingdom Covenant: The Life of Isaac and the Pursuit of Trust
2 Sermon Summary
In this sermon, we explore the life of Isaac, the son of Abraham, as part of the “Kingdom Covenant” series. Isaac, who inherited considerable wealth and the family business from Abraham, is depicted as a man who generally made good decisions, trusting in God’s promises. However, he also repeated some of his father’s mistakes, particularly when he lied about his wife Rebecca being his sister due to fear for his life. This act of deception, mirroring Abraham’s past actions, highlights the human tendency to revert to familiar but flawed patterns in times of stress. The sermon emphasizes the importance of communication, seeking God’s guidance, and asking the question, “What would it look like to trust God in this situation?” to break the cycle of repeated sins.
3 Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather today to reflect on Your word and the life of Isaac, we ask for Your wisdom and guidance. Help us to learn from the past, to recognize the patterns that lead us away from Your will, and to seek Your face in every decision we make. Open our hearts and minds to the lessons You have for us, and may we be receptive to the transformation You desire in our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
4 Ice Breaker
If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and why?
5 Key Verses
- Genesis 25:21 – “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”
- Matthew 16:24-25 – “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'”
6 Questions
- How does Isaac’s response to the famine differ from Abraham’s, and what can we learn from it?
- In what ways do we see Isaac repeating Abraham’s mistakes, and what does this tell us about generational patterns of sin?
- How can we apply the principle of trusting God over seeking immediate happiness in our own lives?
- What does it mean to you to “take up your cross” as Jesus instructs in Matthew 16:24?
- Can you share a time when you had to choose between trusting God and taking matters into your own hands?
- How can we support one another in breaking cycles of repeated sins?
- What role does vulnerability play in our relationships and in our walk with God?
- How can we encourage each other to ask the question, “What would it look like to trust God in this situation?”
7 Life Application
This week, let’s challenge ourselves to identify one area in our lives where we may be seeking happiness apart from God’s will. Let’s commit to bringing this area before God in prayer, asking for His guidance and the strength to trust in His timing and provision. Share this commitment with a trusted friend or group member for accountability and support.
8 Ending Prayer
Lord, as we close our time together, we thank You for the lessons learned from Isaac’s life. We ask for the courage to face our fears, the strength to break free from the patterns that bind us, and the faith to trust in Your perfect plan. May we walk in obedience, carrying our cross, and following You wholeheartedly. Bless our discussions, our fellowship, and our week ahead as we seek to apply Your word to our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Kingdom Covenant Part 4 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Covenant Part 4 Discussion Guide
1 Title
The Prophetic Reenactment: Understanding Sacrifice in Genesis 22
2 Sermon Summary
In this sermon, we delve into the challenging narrative of Genesis 22, where God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. This story raises many questions about the nature of God and the concept of sacrifice. However, the sermon explains that this is a prophetic reenactment pointing to a future event, with Abraham representing God the Father and Isaac foreshadowing Jesus Christ. The parallels between Isaac and Jesus are highlighted, including their miraculous births, their carrying of the wood for their sacrifice, and the provision of a sacrificial substitute by God. The sermon concludes with the powerful message that sacrifice, as seen through Jesus, is the death of one thing so that something else can have new life, offering us a way to be reconciled with God.
3 Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather today to reflect on Your word and the message we have heard, we ask for Your guidance and wisdom. Open our hearts and minds to the profound truths within the story of Abraham and Isaac, and help us to see the foreshadowing of Your ultimate sacrifice in Jesus Christ. May we be receptive to the lessons You have for us, and may our discussion be fruitful and honoring to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
4 Ice Breaker
If you could have witnessed any biblical event, which one would you choose and why?
5 Key Verses
- Genesis 22:8 (NIV): “Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.”
- Hebrews 11:17-19 (NIV): “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so, in a manner of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.”
6 Questions
- What emotions do you think Abraham experienced when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac?
- How does the story of Abraham and Isaac deepen our understanding of God’s character?
- In what ways does Isaac’s carrying of the wood parallel Jesus carrying the cross?
- Why is the concept of sacrifice so central to the Christian faith?
- How does the provision of the ram in Genesis 22 point to Jesus as the Lamb of God?
- What does it mean to you that God provides the sacrifice needed for our reconciliation with Him?
- How can we trust God’s faithfulness in our own lives, even when His requests seem difficult?
- How does the story of Abraham and Isaac challenge or affirm your understanding of obedience to God?
7 Life Application
This week, let us challenge ourselves to trust in God’s faithfulness as Abraham did. Identify an area in your life where you need to surrender control to God and trust in His provision. Whether it’s a personal struggle, a decision you’re facing, or a step of faith you’re hesitant to take, commit it to prayer and be open to God’s guidance, even when it’s difficult.
8 Ending Prayer
Lord God, as we close our time together, we thank You for the lessons learned and the fellowship shared. We are grateful for the ultimate sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, which allows us to experience new life. Help us to carry the message of hope and trust in Your provision into our daily lives. May we be a blessing to those around us, just as Abraham was called to be a blessing to the nations. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Church Encourager
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